Analysis Of The Scarlet Sin: Analyzing Secrets In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Imagine your whole town knowing the sin you committed. The article, The Scarlet Sin: Analyzing Secrets in The Scarlet Letter by Brian Stroner, discusses how two individuals encounter their mutual sin. Hester Prynne had to confront her whole town, who knows her sin. While on the other hand, Arthur Dimmesdale secretly coped with it. This article shows us how Hester's endurement of her sin, Dimmesdale’s coping of his sin, and the meaning of Pearl are all combined to give the novel worth. The first important concept of Stroner’s article is Hester’s endurement of her sin. In Stroner’s article he states, “Hester has no choice but to embrace their adultery, as everyone finds out due to her child.” Since everyone in town knows Hester’s sin, there …show more content…

Pearl is the living proof of Hester and Dimmesdale’s sin. In the Novel Hawthorne states, “Pearl was an evil offspring” (98). This is stating that Pearl is the symbol of their adultery. At first Pearl is very demanding and is often called a witch-baby by others in the town because they believe she will grow up to be just like her mother. However, Hester believes differently, despite Pearl symbolizing their sin, Hester named her daughter Pearl because she is clean and valuable. Pearl is also very intelligent, in the novel, Pearl asks Hester “Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together into the town?”(). Pearl wants Dimmesdale to spend more time with them. Somehow Pearl manages to figure out that Dimmesdale is her father. In the article Stoner mentions, “While the love story of Dimmesdale and Hester may be tragic, their assurance that Pearl will live a happy life helps them to rest easy.” This quote is genuinely positive towards Pearl. It is as if Stroner agrees with Dimmesdale and Hester that Pearl will grow up to be an important valuable person. Stroner’s article,The Scarlet Sin: Analyzing Secrets in The Scarlet Letter, shows that Hester’s endurement of her sin, Dimmesdale's coping with is sin, and the meaning of Pearl are all combined to give the novel worth. Despite sharing the same sin, both Hester and Dimmesdale confronted it in different ways. Hester confronted her sin, while Dimmesdale secretly dealt with it. I believe Hawthorne is trying to encourage the audience to not keep secrets to yourself, but rather be brave and embrace them. The theme of this novel is to be true to

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